Archive for March 2015

Summer is here and with it, all the sweetness of the season and the happy colours that bring in the sunshine. Well, I for one, am a sucker for all things bright and beautiful, and if is the not the lush mango and the balmy breezes of a Bangalore summer that make my day, it is always the trends of the season that thrill me each year.

The last time I did a recce of the stores, I found that summer had indeed arrived and there they were — the new collections. I ran my eye over the ubiquitous pastels, the pleasant florals, the cool sheers, the vivid motifs and the gorgeous reams of light as air fabrics. It was a moveable feast, as Hemingway would say — but it took me a while to find out what was trendy and what could be better.

I’ve just picked out some trends for you which you might like to keep in mind. And keep reading till the end, because I’ve got some beauty tips to offer too.

There were plenty of shirt dresses, A-line skirts and plaid that are back in style this season, black and white and all white ensembles in fitted and loose fitting silhouettes are the must-haves this year

And, guess what. Our humble darji, our neighbourhood tailor, could be back to doing some roaring business too. Tailored clothes are a huge draw this year, especially tailored jackets and jumpsuits. I think we can take this further and get some interesting skirts and dresses done by our tailors too.

But of course, there is an up and a downside to this suggestion. First the downside — while a good tailor might get the fit right and might follow your patterns to precision, it would need a very creative designer (try Bangalore’s hottest designer and my personal favourite- Deepika Govind, as shown in accompanying picture) to make something unique for you.

The plus point of using a tailor would be that you get clothes that accentuate your every curve and you are sure you will get something you are comfortable in at half the cost.

I would suggest the next best thing. If you cannot afford a fabulous designer, buy clothes from the malls or a regular store, but get them tweaked by your tailor. This will ensure a great fit and a few creative touches here and you might just look like you’ve stepped off the catwalk.

As for the other trends this year, flared pants are back again, but is doomed for failure perhaps in a country like ours where we swear by skinny trousers. Florals are always popular in summer but this time opt for larger flowery prints that are big and bold. No, they will not make you look oversized if you tone the bright motifs down with simple accessories or if you team them with monochromatic clothes. Hate flowers? Go for the dots instead that are also one of the most popular prints of the day.

Go retro with your accessories. I adore the small, structured handbags in softest pastels that are everywhere now. The brooch is back – and in case, you’re from a generation that has never seen them, a brooch is a decorative pin that can add a zing to your attire, and is usually created out of stones, crafted with filigree work and designed in dazzling colours.

And now for some beauty news–

Girls – don‘t forget to check out the Micellar water that is the big buzz now. It was once restricted only to Paris where beautiful Parisians used it to combat the effects of the hard water in their city. But now here it is, even in India and gaining popularity by the day. Experts say that it has been named micellar because of the oil molecules in its water-like formula. It is gentle on the skin and leaves the face feeling like a dream. So skip the wet wipes this summer and get a bottle of micellar water instead and watch your skin glow. And yes, there are brands that come with anti-ageing properties too!

As for makeup – skip the red lipstick for the season and go for the pinks. Did you know that there are pinks to match every skin tone? So spend some time trying out each pink tone against your skin and choose the right one.

Here’s to a fabulous summer and watch this blog for updates every week!